Structure for handling stacked flat articles

ABSTRACT

A plurality of vertical stacks of flat articles, such as carton blanks or the like, are arranged in upright rows on a flexible pallet pad in turn resting upon a pallet. A free end of the pallet pad is trained through a pair of nip rolls which advance the first row of the stack onto a structure which is then rocked to a position where each stacked pile of such row falls against a stop mounted on the frame so that each pile is in a particular imbricating relationship. The stops are staggered so that each pile varies in imbrication to prevent the blanks of one pile from interleaving with the blanks of an adjacent pile. The structure referred to may be part of a vehicle arranged to move between the stacked pallet and a blank feeding machine. The vehicle may be moved to a stand with the piles arranged as described, and pusher means engages one side of the outermost pile on the vehicle to push as desired a remote one of the piles onto a conveyer structure of a blank feeding machine, all the while maintaining the blanks of one pile from interleaving with blanks of an adjacent pile.

United States'Patent 1 91 Friel June 26, 1973 STRUCTURE FOR HANDLING STACKED FLAT ARTICLES [75] Inventor: James J. Friel, Audubon, Pa,

[73] Assignee: Container Corporation of America,

Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: Nov. 8, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 196,482

52 U.S. c1 214/41, 214/1 QE, 214/8.5 B, 214/44 A, 214/309, 271/6, 280/47.17,

[51] 1m. 01. B65g 67/02 58 Field of Search 214/1 QE, 8.5 B, 214/s.s G, 8.5 ss, 38 R, 309, 41, 44 R, 44 A;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,707,568 5/1955 Jackson 2l4/8.5 R 3,521,763 7/1970 Heide 2l4/8.5 A

Primary Examiner-Robert G. Sheridan Attorney-Richard W. Carpenter [57 ABSTRACT A plurality of vertical stacks of flat articles, such as carton blanks or the like, are arranged in upright rows on a flexible pallet pad in turn resting upon a pallet. A free end of the pallet pad is trained through a pair of nip rolls which advance the first row of the stack onto a structure which is then rocked to a position where each stacked pile of such row falls against a stop mounted on the frame so that each pile is in a particular imbricating relationship. The stops are staggered so that each pile varies in imbrication to prevent the blanks of one pile from interleaving with the blanks of an adjacent pile.

The structure referred to may be part of a vehicle arranged to move between the stacked pallet and a blank feeding machine.

The vehicle may be moved to a stand with the piles arranged as described, and pusher means engages one side of the outermost pile on the vehicle to push as desired a remote one of the piles onto a conveyer structure of a blank feeding machine, all the while maintaining the blanks of one pile from interleaving with blanks of an adjacent pile.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Y Pmmwmzs ma 3.741.413

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INVENTOR JAMES FRIEL 6 W ATTORNEY FIGA mmimuuzsma v 371415413 SHEET 2 0f 3 M INVENTOR JAMES FRIEL ATTORNEYS STRUCTURE FOR HANDLING STACKED FLAT ARTICLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to structure for transferring stacked piles of flat articles, such as container blanks, from a pallet containing a number of rows of the vertically stacked articles to a conveyer or feeder mechanism. The structure includes a pallet having the rows of vertically stacked articles stored thereon, there being a flexible pallet pad or web interposed between the bottom of the stacks and a load bearing surface of the pallet. The web is advanced together with the stacks by means of a pair of nip rollers engaging the web, the foremost row of the stacked articles being moved to a delivery position where the stacks of such row are moved onto a structure having a first position for receiving the row of stacked articles. The structure may be part of a vehicle having ground engaging means, and is movable to a second position where the stacks are caused to be supported on the structure along the edges thereof. Structure is provided whereby each stack of articles is disposed in an imbrication relationship which is different from the imbricating relationship of an adjacent stack.

The structure or vehicle is preferably movable to a position where the rows of stacks of the articles may be advanced onto a conveyer or feeder mechanism. By reason of the varying imbrication, the discrete articles of each stack are prevented from interleaving with the discrete articles of an adjacent stack.

2. The Prior Art Jackson U.S. Pat. No. 2,707,568 (Class 214/85) discloses structure for tilting a single stack of flat articles such as carton blanks from a vertical position thereof to a reclined position where individual articles may be fed from the reclining stack. Criger US. Pat. No. 2,716,500 (Class 214/309) shows structure for engaging a single vertical stack of crates or the like and moving same to a reclining position where the articles may be moved on an endless conveyer. Heide et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,521,763 (Class 214/85) also shows structure for engaging a single vertical stack and for removing same to a somewhat reclined position for subsequent engagement of the articles from the reclining stack.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The structure according to the present invention constitutes an improvement over the prior art in that more than one stack of articles may be handled at a time. In a form of the invention, the structure comprehends a transportable vehicle for receiving a row of stacked articles and then rearranging the position thereon when the vehicle is rocked to what may be considered a reclining position. Structure is provided to vary the imbrication of the articles of one stack with respect to the articles of an adjacent stack, so that the rows may be moved laterally of the longitudinal axes thereof onto a conveyer or feed mechanism or the like without the possibility of interleaving of the articles of one stack with the articles of an adjacent stack.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view showing a plurality of vertical stacks of flat articles such as carton blanks or the like arranged in a plurality of rows, said stacks being stored on a pallet;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the pallet showing a pallet pad or web interposed between the bottoms of the stacks and a load bearing surface of the pallet engaged by nip rolls for moving the stacks on the pallet;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 1, and showing structure in a position for receiving stacked articles which have been advanced to a delivery position from the pallet seen in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view showing the structure moved to a position where the stacks of articles thereon are arranged in varying degrees of imbricating relationship;

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the pallet of FIGS. 1

and 2, and the structure of FIGS. 3 and 4, arranged in relationship to a feeder mechanism or conveyer arranged to receive a stack of articles; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the feeder mechanism seen in FIG. 5.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a pallet 11 having a plurality' of vertical stacks 12 of flat articles such as carton blanks or the like stored thereon. The stacks of flat articles are designated as being in rows R1, R2, R3, and R4, and the rows are moved seriatim, so that the foremost row is delivered to a structure indicated generally by the reference numeral 13. Preferably, structure 13 is transportable to position for delivery of the articles thereon to a conveyer or prefeeder referred to generally by the reference numeral 15, see also FIG. 6. I

Pallet 11 has a plurality of pallet feet 16 which are spaced as shown whereby tines of a lift truck or the like may be introduced under a load bearing deck 17 to lift pallet 11. The stacked articles arranged in the rows R1 to R4 inclusive rest upon a pallet pad or web 18 interposed between the bottom of the stacked articles and the load bearing deck 17. The free end 19 of the web 18 is engaged between a pair of nip rolls 21 and 22, these being mounted for rotation and supported in spaced frames 23 and 24, see FIG. 2. A drive motor 26 is arranged to drive nip roll 21 to cause all of the rows of the stacked articles to be moved with respect to the load supporting deck 17.

Structure 13 is adapted to receive foremost row R1 which has been advanced by the moving web 18, and consists of a frame 27 having lower abutment 28 and ground engaging means 29 for transport thereof. Structure 13 has handles 31 which may be engaged by an operator to rock the same from the position seen in FIG. 2 to the position seen in FIG. 3.

Upon such rotation or pivoting movement to the position seen in FIG. 3, the stacked articles loaded thereon are caused to adopt imbricating relationship in a given stack which differs from the imbrication of an adjacent stack to prevent interleaving or the articles of one stack with the articles of another adjacent stack. To this end, see FIG. 5, structure 13 is provided with a plurality of stops 32, 33, 34, and 36, each of which is supported by an arm 37 which extends from the frame 27. Arm 37 has brackets 38 extending therefrom overlying frame 27 in spaced relationship thereto as seen particularly in FIG. 4. Each of the brackets has placed from the vehicle"13.fi1- j After the most remoteof the stacks have been moved j :by the pusher 39ffromstructure13ofthe conveyer'ls;

one of the stop members 32, 33, 34, or 36 secured thereto, and it will be seen by the positioning of the stop members that the shingling or imbrication of the articles of each row will be differentfrom the articles of an adjacent rows Structure isprovided structure 13 onto the prefeeder mechanism 15, and such structure consists of a pusher plate 39 having a pivotal connection 41 to apusher bar-42 which can be.

activated by any suitable mechanism. The operation of for pushing the stacks from face thereof: 7 I

j a. meansfor advancing said web and said stacks to a e I deliveryposition of thefirst rowof stackedflat artithe pusher plate 39 isto push the most remote ofthe reclining stacks onto the prefeeder mechanism It i will be noted that the stops are so arranged that the im bricating stacks will clear the same as the stacks are pushed by the pusher bar 42. I 7

Referring now to FIG. 5, the prefeeder mechanism 15 consists of a first orbitally movable conveyer 43 having a conveying reach 44 anda return reach 46, the two reaches being trained about a driving roller 47, an idler roller 48; and a reversing roller 49. The articles on the conveyer belt 51 having a conveying reach 52 andjareturn reach 53, conveyer 51 being driven by a driving roller 54, and including idler. roller 56, and a reversing conveyer 43 are moved to a second orbitallymovable I i roller 57 which is co-axial with the driving roller 47 of conveyer 43. Conveying reach 52 moves along an archate frame 58, and individual articles are removedfrom the stack on conveyer 43 by means of picker members 59 disposed at the discharge end of the stacked articles on the conveyer 43.

The articles are moved by the conveying reach 52 in" a shingled relationshipasshown and are constrainedin such movement by a third endless conveyer 61 having I reaches are trained about idler rollers 66, 67and 68. A

slack adjusting roller 69 is provided inthe return reach a conveying reach 62 and a, return reach 63. The two 63. The articles being delivered by the third conveyer:

61 move past a jogging mechanism 71 and aredeposited onto a hopper H. The height of the stack in. the

hopper H is controlled by a stack control referred to generally by the reference numeral 72.

The articles within hopper H are delivered by an end-' less belt conveyer 73 having a conveying reach 741and return reach 76, the two reaches being trained between pulleys 77 and 78. Conveyer 73 deliversvthe articles one at a timeto a gluing or other mechanismfor treatment of the individualblanks as desired.

I It may benoted that the precise formof the conveyer mechanism seen in FIG. 6forms no partof thepresent invention and is describedin detail merely to illustrate the dispdsition of the articles which have been disand after such stack; has beenremoved by theconveyer 15, the next stack ofarticles is placedon'the conveyer 4 l5 fortreatment as before. j k it may be noted that byreason of the different im brieating relationship oftwo adjacent stacks, the articles of one stack are prevented from interleaving withthe articles of an adjacent stack. After all offthe articles i have been removed from structure 13, it'ismoved back tothe position adjacent pallet 11 where the next suc-" ceeding row R, is advanced bythe web 18 to be deliv i eredto the vehicle 13, the operations beingrepeatedas;

ceiving means isa conveyer." t a j 5. Apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein said frame is provided witha stop'for each of said stacks and wherein said stops are spaced different distances from before.

I claim:

1. ln apparatus for unloading a row of stacked flat articles such as carton blanks or the like arranged upon a pallet invertically stacked rows, and wherein said pallet is provided with a flexible web interposed between the bottom of said stacked rows and aloadbeari'ng stircles; v H b. means includinga framefor receiving a row of said stacked articles by movement of said web to a delivery position of saidrowi fl i. said means occupying a firstposition for receiving said first row of stacked articles;

ii. said meansoccupying a second position with said articles resting. along theiredges on said frame in imbricating relationship;

c. means onsaid frame for varying the degree of imj bricating relationship between the stacks toqpre vent interleaving of the flat articlesof one stack with the flat articles of an adjacent stack.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 including means for receiving seriatimthe stacks of articles fronisaid frame.

13. Apparatus according to claim 2 inclu dingmeans for moving said stacks laterally of thelongitudinal axes thereof onto said receiving means.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said re- 7 an end of said frame. 9 a

6. In apparatus forunloading a row of'stacked flat articles such ascarton blanks or the like, arranged upon] a pallet in vertically stacked rows: i

a. means foradvancing said stacks to a delivery position of 'thefirst row of stacked flat articles;w

b. means including a frame for receiving a row of said stacked articles by movement of said webto a .de-j

livery position ofsaid row! s i. said frame occupying a first position for receiving said first row of stackedarticles;

ii. said frame occupying a second position with said.

articlesresting along their edgeson said frame in imbricating relationship; it t c. means'onsaidfra ne for varying the degree of imbricating relationship between the stacks to'preit vent interleaving of the flat articlesofone stack with the flat articles of fan adjacent stack.

R f7! Apparatusaccording tofclaini6 including means for receiviiigseriatim the stacks of articlesfrom said frame.

8.( Apparatus thereofonto said receiving means.

accbrdirig tc claim 17 includingmea'ns formovingsaid stacks laterally ofthelongitudinal axes 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE "CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 5,7A1, 15 Dated June 26, 1975 Inventor( James J.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown belowz Column l, line A2, Claim 6, paragraph b. line 2,

"by movement of said web" should .be canceled and moved inserted therefor. v v

Signed and sealed this 17th day of December 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

C. MARSHALL DANN McCOY M. GIBSON JR.

Con'missioner of Patents Attesting Officer FORM v I I Q v. USCOMM'DC 60376-P69 I U.S. GOVKRNIENT 'I'NYlNG OVI'ICE: o 

1. In apparatus for unloading a row of stacked flat articles such as carton blanks or the like arranged upon a pallet in vertically stacked rows, and wherein said pallet is provided with a flexible web interposed between the bottom of said stacked rows and a load bearing surface thereof: a. means for advancing said web and said stacks to a delivery position of the first row of stacked flat articles; b. means including a frame for receiving a row of said stacked articles by movement of said web to a delivery position of said row: i. said means occupying a first position for receiving said first row of stacked articles; ii. said means occupying a second position with said articles resting along their edges on said frame in imbricating relationship; c. means on said frame for varying the degree of imbricating relationship between the stacks to prevent interleaving of the flat articles of one stack with the flat articles of an adjacent stack.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 including means for receiving seriatim the stacks of articles from said frame.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 including means for moving said stacks laterally of the longitudinal axes thereof onto said receiving means.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said receiving means is a conveyer.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said frame is provided with a stop for each of said stacks, and wherein said stops are spaced different distances from an end of said frame.
 6. In apparatus for unloading a row of stacked flat articles such as carton blanks or the like arranged upon a pallet in vertically stacked rows: a. means for advancing said stacks to a delivery position of the first row of stacked flat articles; b. means including a frame for receiving a row of said stacked articles by movement of said web to a delivery position of said row: i. said frame occupying a first position for receiving said first row of stacked articles; ii. said frame occupying a second position with said articles resting along their edges on said frame in imbricating relationship; c. means on said frame for varying the degree of imbricating relationship between the stacks to prevent interleaving of the flat articles of one stack with the flat articles of an adjacent stack.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6 including means for receiving seriatim the stacks of articles from said frame.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7 including means for moving said stacks laterally of the longitudinal axes thereof onto said receiving means.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said receiving means is a conveyer.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said frame is provided with a stop for each of said stacks, and wherein each of said stops is spaced a different distance from an end of said frame. 